The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
2 November 2008
editorial
Africa has received a valuable lesson in democracy from the tropical Indian Ocean archipelago of Maldives, which held a presidential runoff election last week.
The election saw President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Asia's longest serving leader, voted out of office after 30 years in power.
It was the way Mr Gayoom reacted to the result that makes headline news in Africa.
Not only did Mr Gayoom gracefully accept his defeat in the poll, he actually heartily congratulated the winner, Mr Mohamed "Anni" Nasheed, who received 54.2 per cent of the vote against the incumbent's 45.8 per cent.
"Beloved citizens of the Maldives, I accept the results of the October 28 runoff election and respectfully congratulate Mohamed Nasheed and his party.
In the life of a democracy this is a great moment, a great example by Maldivians. I accept the will of the people," Mr Gayoom told the state-run Voice of Maldives radio.
Such humbleness shown by a sitting president in accepting the will of the people is virtually unheard of in Africa where the tendency is for leaders to cling on to power at all costs.
A typical African scenario would have been for Mr Gayoom to refuse to hand over power after losing the runoff election and enter into protracted power-sharing negotiations with Mr Nasheed under the mediation of some prominent and respected individual.
A power-sharing deal would eventually be struck with the election loser remaining president and the winner begrudgingly settling for the post of executive prime minister.
This has now become the standard way to resolve electoral impasses in Africa.
The will of the people is seldom respected on the continent as events of the past few months in a number of countries can confirm.
It is for this reason that we think the Maldives presidential runoff election was a perfect example to Africa of democracy at work.
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